Spray washing system for garments

ABSTRACT

Spray washing system for garments. A pair of opposed nozzles on opposite sides of a garment hanging plane with the impact area of one of hollow form and that of the other elongated, extending thereacross, the former acting as a garment positioning element for the latter while both apply water to the garment. For washing pockets etc. sprays with elongated impact areas extending horizontally sweep upwardly, preferably in up down repeated manner, preferably pipes carrying the nozzles rotating about their own axes. An agitating section, e.g. for effective rinse, employs nozzles with elongated impact areas extending vertically, sweeping horizontally, preferably in a back and forth repeated manner, preferably also on pipes that rotate about their own axes. Vertically arranged soft roll pairs, such as of sponge rubber, driven at the same speed as the surface speed of the conveyor retain the water in each spray section. Horizontally extending wires in the zone of the opposed nozzles confine the garments to the hanging plane.

United States Patent [19] Manuel SPRAY WASHING SYSTEM FOR GARMENTS [52][1.8. CI. 68/3 R, 68/205 R, 118/316, 118/323, 134/181, 134/199 [51] Int.Cl. D06f 31/00 [58] Field of Search 68/205 R, 62.3 R; 118/316,118/323;134/180,181,199

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,732,701 1/1956 Smith eta1. 68/205 R X 2,822,635 2/1958 Mears 113/316 X 3,205,686 9/1965 Norton68/62 X 3,261,369 7/1966 Thiele 134/181 X 3,510,352 5/1970 Neuman134/181 X 3,686,899 8/1972 Rosenfeld et a1. 68/205 R X FOREIGN PATENTS0R APPLICATIONS 20,757 1/1930 Australia 68/205 R 364,002 ll/l922 Germany68/205 R 1 Aug.6, 1974 Primary ExaminerHarvey O. Hornsby AssistantExaminer-Philip R. Coe

[5 7] ABSTRACT Spray washing system for garments. A pair of opposednozzles on opposite sides of a garment hanging plane with the impactarea of one of hollow form and that of the other elongated, extendingthereacross, the former acting as a garment positioning element for thelatter while both apply water to the garment. For washing pockets etc.sprays with elongated impact areas extending horizontally sweepupwardly, preferably in up down repeated manner, preferably pipescarrying the nozzles rotating about their own axes. An agitatingsection, e.g. for effective rinse, employs nozzles with elongated impactareas extending vertically, sweeping horizontally, preferably in a backand forth repeated manner, preferably also on pipes that rotate abouttheir own axes. Vertically arranged soft roll pairs, such as of spongerubber, driven at the same speed as the surface speed of the conveyorretain the water in each spray section. Horizontally extending wires inthe zone of the opposed nozzles confine the garments to the hangingplane.

15 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures 1 SPRAY WASHING SYSTEM FOR GARMENTS Thisinvention relates to a spray washing system for garments while hangingon hangers and useful in a conveyorized washing system.

A continuous system for laundering garments while hanging on hangers andcarried by a conveyor one by-one is disclosed in U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 55,468, filed July 16, 1970, and now Pat. No. 3,686,899, byHoward Rosenfeld and Justin J. Wetzler to which reference is made. Amongother things that application discloses a conveyor for successivegarments on hangers with the long horizontal dimensions of the garmentsaligned with the direction of travel and a series of successive separatespray stations, including at least one wash and one rinse station,through which the garments are successively conveyed. Each spray stationis adapted to direct liquid spray in the transverse direction againstthe broad sides of the successive garments in the manner that relatesmovement between garment and spray causes agitated movement of garmentportions while thoroughly subjecting the garment to spray.

The objects of the present invention are to provide improved spraywashing apparatus useful in such systems and in other systems.

The invention features the combination of a pair of opposed nozzles onopposite sides of a garment hanging plane, in which the impact areas ofone nozzle is that of a hollow form and that of the other is elongated,extending there across, the former acting as a garment positioningelement for the latter while both apply water to the garment.

It also features a washing section capable of washing pockets comprisinga series of spray pipes, preferably slightly angled with respect tohorizontal when used with conveyed garments, with elongated impact areasof the sprays extending horizontally and sweeping upwardly on thehanging plane.

lt also features a rinse section with pipes, preferably slightly angledwith respect to vertical when used with conveyed garments, withelongated impact areas of the sprays extending vertically and sweepinghorizontally on the hanging plane.

The combinations of these features with wires for restraining thegarments in hanging planes and soft rubber, vertically arranged squeezeroll pairs between wash, rinse and discharge stations is shown.

Other objects and features will be understood from the description ofthe preferred embodiment with reference to the figures wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view partially in cross-section and partiallydiagrammatic of a complete washing system according to the invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are cross sections taken at lines 22 and 3-3 of FIG. 1 andpartially diagrammatic of the soaking and washing stations respectively,and

FIGS. 4, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d are diagrammatic cross sections illustrating thepocket washing effect of one of the wash station pipes.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view illustrating the spray impactareas achieved with the soak station of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 1 garments on hangers 12 are conveyed on a conveyor 14through a hanging'plane P which may comprise a series of planes if spacerequirements prevent the conveyor from running in a straight linethrough all stations.

Soiled garments after being placed on hangers on the conveyor areconveyed through soak station 16, washing stations 18 and 20, verticalsqueeze roll pair 22, rinse station 24 and 26 and squeeze roll pair 28.

The conveyor moves e.g. at 10 feet per minute and the squeeze rolls aredriven with matching surface speed.

Each station is provided with its own receiver vat 30, and is equippedwith its own pump which heats and recirculates the water through therespective nozzles. The only exception is the last spray pipe pair 32which employ fresh water, with optional sour, this water comprising theonly make up water in the entire system. Baffles 34 are provided toprevent mixing water of the various stations and water is withdrawn fromthe last rinse station as needed in the other stations.

Referring also to FIG. 2 in the soak station two pairs of opposed pipesare provided of which two, designated 33 and 35 are seen in the figures.The pipes are stationary, set with major component in the verticaldirection but angled forward, angle a in the direction of travel of theconveyor.

There are pairs of opposed nozzles on these pairs of pipes, however thenozzles of each pair are of different type. NOzzles 40 are of the hollowcone type, for in stance hollow cone whirl jet l/4 B5 manufactured bySPraying Systems, Inc., Chicago, who make all of the nozzles for thisspecific embodiment. These nozzles produce a hollow cone of spray havinga cone angle of approximately Spaced the standard dimension of 3 inchesfrom the garment hanging plane, the impact area of the spray upon theplane is a hollow annulus H approximately 5 or 6 inches wide, with aradial thickness of the annulus on the order of inch. Opposed nozzlesare of the flat spray type, e.g. 1/4 TT 80 Vee Jet, having an 80 spreadin one direction and virtually no spread in the other direction. Thesenozzles, 42, produce an elongated impact area at the 3 inch spacing,e.g. of 5 or 7 inches length and A inch width. Opposing nozzles 40 and42 are aligned so that the elongated areas overlie the open space of theannular impact areas. Thus direct opposition of two sprays is avoidedwhile the tendency to blow the garment out of position is overcome. Bysuch, the flat spray is able to exert its optimum penetrating force,soaking and dislodging dirt throughout the thickness of the fabric,while the hollow cone positions the fabric for this treatment and addsadditional soaking solution, this being typically a warm detergent ineach case.

The nozzle pairs are advantageously placed on 6 inch centers along thepipe, having an overlapping effect. As the garment enters between a soakpair, first the forward lower hem encounters the spray, and the soakingspreads progressively as the conveyor moves, lower portions beingprogressively sprayed before upper portions. This has the desiredsoaking effect. It is discovered that an opposite angle of the pipe isnot so effective --i.e., water running down in rivulets from upperportions of the garment are found toimpede the effect of the sprays.

Typically the pipes 33, and 35 are 5 ft. 10 inches in vertical heightwith a 1 foot component in the horizontal dimension and the second pairof soak pipes is spaced Sfeet forward of the first pair, giving anopportunity for excess water to run off the garment after the first pairbefore reaching the second. It should also be noted that the pairs ofsprays above described have a desirable complex flexing effect of thegarment, as defined by the circular pressure region in one directioncrossed by a linear pressure region in the opposite direction. By this,soil is loosened and wrinkles begin to be removed (see FIG. 5).

After progressing through baffles 34 the garment passes through the washstations 18 and 20, and perhaps additional stations for e.g. rentalgarments exposed to high soil conditions. Each wash station in thisembodiment is the same so only one will be described.

Wash station 18 comprises a series of pipes 50, 52, 54 each of which isset at a small angle B to the horizontal so that the major component ofextent is in that direction. The series of pipes are parallel to thehanging plane P, spaced 3 inches therefrom, the pipes are spaced 18inches vertically from one another, are 6 ft. 6 inches in horizontalextent and 18 inches each in vertical extent. The pipes are mounted inbearings 56 for rotation about their own axes A. Along these pipes at 6inch centers are nozzles of the flat spray type, all 1/4 P 5010 having a50 included angle in one direction virtually none in the other. The widedimensions of the nozzles are aligned with the axes of the respectivepipes this.being advantageous to maintain the same orientation of sprayimpact area on the hanging plane as the pipes rotate, with major extentin the horizontal direction. A motor 60 and crank assembly 62rotationally oscillate the pipes to 45 on each side of perpendicularrelation to the hanging plane. Downsweep of the pipe applies significantquantities of water to the garment, much running into a pocket 64 of agarment (FIG. 4). Successive upsweep of the next lower pipe 54 has aunique pocket washing effect. In FIG. 4 a nozzle 54 is shown sprayingperpendicular to the hanging plane, commencing to squeeze the bottom ofthe pocket 64. The water already captured in the pocket has not had achance to drain through the fabric. Thus when the pocket is squeezed thewater starts to be forced up and run over the edge. As the pipe 54rotates the component Cv of the spray in the upward vertical directionaccelerates the water, and as rotation proceeds this component increasesto Cv of FIG. 4d. Thus the water is squeezed out of the bottom andaccelerated out Of the 'top of the pocket, then refilled in a cyclicmanner as the sprays rotate. In this embodiment the pipes are rotatedthrough 44 cycles per minute while the garments move at 10 feet perminute, thus assuring a repeated washing action. Tests reveal thatinsides of pockets are washed free of soil and much larger debris isremoved.

As shown the pipes are mounted in opposed pairs 49, 50; 5 l, 52; 53, 54.However they are driven 90 out of synchronization. Thus spray impactareas do not oppose each other, but have a mutually garment supportingeffect. The sinuous contour into which the garment is progressivelyformed by the sprays has a soil dislodging effect which may be likenedto the popping of an ice cube out of a deformed rubber ice cube tray.

The angular relation of the pipes ensures thorough coverage of thegarments as they proceed, the 6 inch spacing of the nozzles ensuring arepeated, varying effect. This further dewrinkles garments.

The wet garments pass through a pair of sponge rubber rolls, having aforce against each other on the order of one or a few pounds. In thisembodiment a 6 %inch outer diameter roll is secured to a 4 inch centerpipe, the sponge rubber being of the type known as Armoflex insulation,used for insulating refrigeration pipes.

These rolls gently squeeze out water from the vertically hanginggarments limiting the mixing between adjacent tanks.

The garments then proceed to a first rinse station of identicalconstruction and effect as the washing station, thence through a secondpair of squeeze rolls 23 thence to a second rinse station. This stationcomprises 3 opposed pipe pairs 70, 72, 32 constructed identically tothose of the wash station with the following exceptions. The nozzles ofthe first two encountered pipe pairs have nozzles l/4 TI 8010 withincluded angle and rated at 1 gallon per minute capacity at 40 psi (thesame as the 1 gallon per minute at 40 psi for the wash station nozzles).The nozzles at the final rinse pair 32 from which fresh water emits areTee Jets 1/4 TT 8002 of 0.2 gpm/40 psi rated capacity such that thetotal fresh water input to the entire laundry system may be only 2.6gallons per minute.

Pipes 70 and 72 have major extent in the vertical direction, e.g.forming an angle of 20 to the vertical, the pipes angling downwardly inthe conveying direction. Thus as the garments arrive at each spray pairthey are rinsed progressively from top to bottom, gravity aiding andavoiding drainage onto rinsed areas. The first pairs 70, 72 of the pipesin the last stage rotate at 44 rpm, 45 to either side from perpendicularrelation to the hanging plane, and thus the garments are swept back andforth horizontally by the out of phase, opposed sprays in a rinsingaction, with minimum drainage onto rinsed areas. This has an enhancedagitating action due to the fact that the weight of the garment is notproviding the resistance to such horizontal sinuous flexing as it doesby the vertical sinuous flexing as produced in the washing sections.(For this reason one or more of the wash stations may be equipped withsuch a spray system). The last spray pipe 32 is similarly angled but isstationary, and applies a fine spray to which sour may be added toneutralize the effects of any detergent chemicals that may remain.Following this is a third set of squeeze rolls, and then a dryingsection which may be according to my co-pending drier application.

Horizontal wires spaced e.g. 1 /2ft. apart and 1 inch from the hangingplane, wires on each side of the plane, provide a channel through whichthe garments travel, this helping to confine the channel to the hangingplane, for best effect of the spray system.

In operation wash water may be maintained at 140F, 1st rinse 120F,second rinse F and final rinse, pipe 32, cold. The speed of oscillationof the pipes may be varied over a range. For pocket washing preferablythe speed is maintained in the range of about 20 to 50 rpm, too slowimpeding the speed of the system as well as allowing water to drainthrough the pockets, too fast failing to properly accelerate the water,and coordinate with the wave of water formed in the pocket.

Without further discussion it will be understood that numerousvariations of the system and its components will occur within the spiritand scope of the description.

What is clalmed is:

l. A washing on a hanger system comprising: a first water spray station;

a second water spray station; and,

a conveyor for transporting garments through said first station and thenthrough said second station, said conveyor being arranged to transportsaid garments through each of said stations in a respective hangingplane with the long horizontal dimensions of the garments extending inthe respective plane,

each of said spray stations comprising a set of spaced pipes extendinggenerally parallel to the hanging plane of said each station, a spraynozzle mounted on each of said pipes and arranged to direct a flat sprayhaving an elongated impact area against said hanging plane of said eachstation, and means for rotating each of said pipes about the axisthereof to cause the impact area of the nozzle mounted thereon to travelalong said hanging plane of said each station in a direction having amajor component generally perpendicular to the longest dimension of theimpact area of the nozzle,

the longest dimensions of the impact areas of the nozzles of the firstwater spray station extending generally horizontally, and,

the longest dimensions of the impact areas of the nozzles of the secondwater spray station extending generally vertically. I

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said pipes of said first station arevertically spaced relative to each other, each of said pipes forming asmall acute angle with the horizontal such that it is angled downwardlyin the direction of travel of the conveyor,

said pipes of said second station are horizontally spaced relative toeach other, each of said pipes forming a small acute angle with thevertical such that it is angled downwardly in the direction of travel ofthe conveyor, and

a plurality of said noozzles having said respective impact areas ismounted on each of said pipes.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said stations comprises a saidset of said pipes of said each station with said nozzles having saidrespective impact areas mounted thereon positioned on each side of saidhanging plane of said each station.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the sets of said pipes of said eachstation are aligned with each other across said hanging plane of saideach station, and said means for rotating said pipes is arranged torotate the pipes of one of said sets out of phase with the pipes of theother of said sets.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein each of said stations includesrestraining wires extending generally horizontally and arranged toconfine a garment in each said station in the region of the hangingplane of said each station.

6. In a system for washing garments while hung with the long horizontaldimensions thereof extending in a vertical plane and including nozzlesarranged to direct spray against the broad sides of the garments and aconveyor arranged to transport the garments relative to the nozzles in ahanging plane generally parallel to the vertical plane, that improvementcomprising:

a set of nozzles mounted in a line along and on one side of the hangingplane, each of said nozzles being arranged to direct against saidhanging plane a flat spray having an elongated impact area the longestdimension of which is generally parallel to said line; and,

means for periodically swinging each of said nozzles of said set tocause said impact area thereof to travel along said plane in a directionhaving a major component generally perpendicular to said longestdimension thereof.

7. The system of claim 6 including a second set of nozzles mounted on asecond line along and on said one side of said plane, said second linebeing generally parallel to said first-mentioned line and spacedtherefrom a distance greater than said longest dimension, and each ofsaid second set of nozzles being arranged to direct against said plane aflat spray having an elongated impact area the longest dimension ofwhich is generally parallel to said second line.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein each of said sets of said nozzles ismounted on a respective pipe extending generally parallel to saidhanging plane, and said means for swinging said nozzles comprises meansfor rotating each of said pipes about its respective axis.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein each of said lines extends downwardlyin the direction of movement of the garments, and forms a small acuteangle with one of the horizontal and the vertical.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said line forms a small angle with thehorizontal, said impact areas are oriented with their major dimensionsextending generally horizontally, and said swinging of said nozzlescauses said horizontally oriented impact areas periodically to travelupwardly of said plane thereby to squeeze accumulated liquid upwardlyout of pockets of said garments.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein said line forms a small angle with thevertical.

12. The system of claim 7 wherein said impact areas of adjacent nozzlesof each of said sets overlap.

13. In a system for washing garments while hung with the long horizontaldimensions thereof extending in a vertical plane and including nozzlesarranged to direct spray against the broad sides of the garments and aconveyor arranged to transport the garments relative to the nozzles in ahanging plane generally parallel to the vertical plane, that improvementcomprising:

a first set of nozzles mounted in a first line along and on one side ofthe hanging plane;

a second set of nozzles mounted along and on the other side of saidhanging plane in a second line generally parallel to said first line;

each of said nozzles of each of said sets being arranged to directagainst said hanging plane a flat spray having an elongated impact areathe longest dimension of which is generally parallel to said first andsecond lines; and,

means for periodically swinging each of said nozzles of each of saidsets to cause said impact areas thereof to travel along said plane in adirection having a major component generally perpendicular to saidlongest dimension thereof, and in such a manner as to maintain theimpact areas of the nozzles of the two sets in offset relationship.

14. The station of claim 13 including restraining wires extendinghorizontally in the zone between opposing nozzles, said wires confiningsaid garment to the region of said plane.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein each of said sets of nozzles ismounted on a respective pipe extending generally parallel to saidhanging plane, and said means comprises means for rotating each of saidpipes about its respective axis.

Dedication 3,827,262.Mal00hn O. Manuel, Stanton, Minn. SPRAY WASHINGSYS- TEM FOR GARMENTS. Patent dated Aug. 6, 197 4. Dedication filed May10, 1978 by the assignees, Ludell Mfg. 00., Inc. and American LinenSupply 00. Hereby dedicate to the Public the entire remaining term ofsaid patent.

[Ofiiaial Gazette June 27, 1.978.]

Patent No. 3,827 ,262 Dated August 6, 197 4 Inventor(s) Malcolm O.Manuel It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patentand that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Cover Sheet, Item 73, Assignee, "A-T-O Inc., Willough'by, Ohio" shouldread --One-half to A-T-O Inc., Willoughby, Ohio; one-half to AmericanLinen Supply Co., Minneapolis, Minnesot a--;

Column 1, line 20, "relates" should be --relativeline 46, "combinations"should be --combination--;

Column 2, line 27, "NOzzles" should be --Nozzles--,

line 29, "SPraying" should be --Spraying--;

Column 3, line 36-, "Fig. a" should be --.-Fig. 4b, line t "01?" shouldbe --of--;

Column 4, line 65-, "c'lalmed" should be --claimed--;

Column 5, line. 37 "noozles" should? be -nozzles--,

line 52, "feaoh said" should be, said each--.

Signed and sealed this 26th day of November 1974.

(SEAL) Attest COY M; GIBSON JR. c; DA reeting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

1. A washing on a hanger system comprising: a first water spray station;a second water spray station; and, a conveyor for transporting garmentsthrough said first station and then through said second station, saidconveyor being arranged to transport said garments through each of saidstAtions in a respective hanging plane with the long horizontaldimensions of the garments extending in the respective plane, each ofsaid spray stations comprising a set of spaced pipes extending generallyparallel to the hanging plane of said each station, a spray nozzlemounted on each of said pipes and arranged to direct a flat spray havingan elongated impact area against said hanging plane of said eachstation, and means for rotating each of said pipes about the axisthereof to cause the impact area of the nozzle mounted thereon to travelalong said hanging plane of said each station in a direction having amajor component generally perpendicular to the longest dimension of theimpact area of the nozzle, the longest dimensions of the impact areas ofthe nozzles of the first water spray station extending generallyhorizontally, and, the longest dimensions of the impact areas of thenozzles of the second water spray station extending generallyvertically.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein said pipes of said firststation are vertically spaced relative to each other, each of said pipesforming a small acute angle with the horizontal such that it is angleddownwardly in the direction of travel of the conveyor, said pipes ofsaid second station are horizontally spaced relative to each other, eachof said pipes forming a small acute angle with the vertical such that itis angled downwardly in the direction of travel of the conveyor, and aplurality of said noozzles having said respective impact areas ismounted on each of said pipes.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein each ofsaid stations comprises a said set of said pipes of said each stationwith said nozzles having said respective impact areas mounted thereonpositioned on each side of said hanging plane of said each station. 4.The system of claim 3 wherein the sets of said pipes of said eachstation are aligned with each other across said hanging plane of saideach station, and said means for rotating said pipes is arranged torotate the pipes of one of said sets out of phase with the pipes of theother of said sets.
 5. The system of claim 4 wherein each of saidstations includes restraining wires extending generally horizontally andarranged to confine a garment in each said station in the region of thehanging plane of said each station.
 6. In a system for washing garmentswhile hung with the long horizontal dimensions thereof extending in avertical plane and including nozzles arranged to direct spray againstthe broad sides of the garments and a conveyor arranged to transport thegarments relative to the nozzles in a hanging plane generally parallelto the vertical plane, that improvement comprising: a set of nozzlesmounted in a line along and on one side of the hanging plane, each ofsaid nozzles being arranged to direct against said hanging plane a flatspray having an elongated impact area the longest dimension of which isgenerally parallel to said line; and, means for periodically swingingeach of said nozzles of said set to cause said impact area thereof totravel along said plane in a direction having a major componentgenerally perpendicular to said longest dimension thereof.
 7. The systemof claim 6 including a second set of nozzles mounted on a second linealong and on said one side of said plane, said second line beinggenerally parallel to said first-mentioned line and spaced therefrom adistance greater than said longest dimension, and each of said secondset of nozzles being arranged to direct against said plane a flat sprayhaving an elongated impact area the longest dimension of which isgenerally parallel to said second line.
 8. The system of claim 7 whereineach of said sets of said nozzles is mounted on a respective pipeextending generally parallel to said hanging plane, and said means forswinging said nozzles comprises means for rotating each of said pipesabout its respective axis.
 9. The system of claim 7 wherein each of saidlines Extends downwardly in the direction of movement of the garments,and forms a small acute angle with one of the horizontal and thevertical.
 10. The system of claim 9 wherein said line forms a smallangle with the horizontal, said impact areas are oriented with theirmajor dimensions extending generally horizontally, and said swinging ofsaid nozzles causes said horizontally oriented impact areas periodicallyto travel upwardly of said plane thereby to squeeze accumulated liquidupwardly out of pockets of said garments.
 11. The system of claim 9wherein said line forms a small angle with the vertical.
 12. The systemof claim 7 wherein said impact areas of adjacent nozzles of each of saidsets overlap.
 13. In a system for washing garments while hung with thelong horizontal dimensions thereof extending in a vertical plane andincluding nozzles arranged to direct spray against the broad sides ofthe garments and a conveyor arranged to transport the garments relativeto the nozzles in a hanging plane generally parallel to the verticalplane, that improvement comprising: a first set of nozzles mounted in afirst line along and on one side of the hanging plane; a second set ofnozzles mounted along and on the other side of said hanging plane in asecond line generally parallel to said first line; each of said nozzlesof each of said sets being arranged to direct against said hanging planea flat spray having an elongated impact area the longest dimension ofwhich is generally parallel to said first and second lines; and, meansfor periodically swinging each of said nozzles of each of said sets tocause said impact areas thereof to travel along said plane in adirection having a major component generally perpendicular to saidlongest dimension thereof, and in such a manner as to maintain theimpact areas of the nozzles of the two sets in offset relationship. 14.The station of claim 13 including restraining wires extendinghorizontally in the zone between opposing nozzles, said wires confiningsaid garment to the region of said plane.
 15. The system of claim 13wherein each of said sets of nozzles is mounted on a respective pipeextending generally parallel to said hanging plane, and said meanscomprises means for rotating each of said pipes about its respectiveaxis.